Melbourne universities have become hunting grounds for cults and high-control religious groups recruiting new members, with activity on campuses ramping up in recent years, a state inquiry has heard. Source: Herald Sun.
Appearing before the parliamentary inquiry into the recruiting behaviours of cults and the number of survivors, Victoria Australian Catholic University Professor Julie Cogin, Provost and Deputy Vice-Chancellor, warned the panel that recruitment by high-control groups were “widespread” and that universities lacked the resources and support to combat the growing issue.
“It may look like a very small issue, but we know from how active they have been on our campus, particularly last year and early this year, that it is an issue,” she said.
Professor Cogin revealed ACU has made at least one report to Victoria Police, but that didn’t “prove to be helpful” as the force was not equipped to deal with such complaints.
She called for a better way for universities to report concerns to authorities and also backed federal and state government funding to provide “specialised” support for universities to help those who had been targeted.
Experts said faith-based groups were operating on campuses, sometimes using Bible groups as a way to bring people in.
But there was also evidence of groups posing as political parties leaving flyers around campus.
RMIT University Executive Director Dene Cicci told the inquiry that more education was needed for students at all age levels to help them try and combat approaches.
He warned that international students were especially at risk and often withdrew from university without their loved ones overseas knowing.
He also warned that university counselling services were already “doing (their) best to keep up with mental health challenges and other things facing our students,” which meant many young people fell through the cracks.
FULL STORY
Recruitment by high-control groups ‘widespread’ at university campuses, Australian Catholic University Professor Julie Cogin says (By Alex White, Herald Sun)
